Vote Medford 2007

Full Text: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

What are you personally planning to do to effect the establishment and expansion of after-school programs for all students, including teens and students with disabilities?

Attenazio: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

One SC member alone cannot personally act without authorization or vote from the SC, unless they are acting as a volunteer or citizen. Personally, I would recommend the SC do a poll of families to find out what they are looking for or what they would like to see available to their children in after-school programs. Then I would recommend that each member research 1or 2 of these goals or ideas and bring the research findings to the SC to discuss, deliberate and vote on the next steps.

Brady: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

We already have many after school programs in place. While our main responsibility is to fund the regular school day effectively (harder all the time with state funding cutbacks), we offer a wide range of extra curricular activities and after school programs at our schools. Stipends are provided to teachers for school clubs and activities and sports. We are working on several new youth programs as well. We provide opportunities to participate in extended day programs at three of our elementary schools and link with other providers such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Graceworks, and Bright Stars as well. All students should be able to participate including students with disabilities. I am aware that special aides have been used to enable certain disabled students to participate. Expansion is a worthwhile goal but stable funding is a challenge.

Cugno: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

What I have done personally for the expansion for after-school programs is to implement The Medford Summer Time Program with City Counselor Breanna Lungo and McGlynn School teacher, George Scarpelli. It incorporates students of 5 to 18 years of age. The program was very successful this summer that we are now in the process of working to expand the program for after school and school vacations. With that said, the school system is diligently providing after school programs presently at the Roberts, McGlynn and Columbus Elementary Schools. We are also working with Graceworks, Bright Stars, and the Boys and Girls Club. Not to mention, how hard the PTO’s are working in their individual schools in providing their own after-school programs.

D'aveta: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

After-school programs are very important and I was a beneficiary of just such programming as a student. On the other hand, I believe unless we decide to fund the programs through extra-budgetary means, it should not compromise the fiscal responsibility we all share in providing a top-notch education during the regular school day.

DiGiantommaso: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

Our primary responsibility is to fund the regular school day. We provide busing to Brooks students to attend after school programs at the Grace Church and the Boys and Girls Club. The McGlynn, Columbus and Roberts Schools have tuition based programs and also P.T.O. supported programs.

Kulik: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

If elected, I would present a resolution to encourage principals to allow PTOs at the elementary level to create after school programs with volunteer and paid staff scholarships such those that currently exists at some schools. I would push for expanded late bus service for both the elementary and middle schools.

We should help exiting local after school programs publicize their programs. We can set up a program to facilitate ride sharing in a manner similar to the MFN babysitting exchange. We could consolidate less attended programs at one school and provide transportation coordinated with regular and late bus service.

We need to insure that all programs are accessible to disabled students, and provide accommodations as required by IEP and 504 plans for after school activities including aides if required. This is particularly important for programs run by parent volunteers who might not have the training or expertise to handle a particular situation.

O'Keefe: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

After-school opportunities should be geared to all members of the community. Communication regarding events, schedules, and activities are posted and shared with the local school community, cable television, and online. Can we do more? Absolutely!! Communication and how people receive the information is expanding though EDTECH and phone announcements. As a school committee member, I believe that students who are identified and willing should have plenty of opportunities to participate in everything that the school and community is offering. I am sure both parent and child would want more hours in the day for events that they can experience together. What you find is that all children and parents have a busy schedule. Teens programs in Medford are limited though. Everything has a cost associated with it. Intramural sports or activities that are geared towards events that interest teens should be reviewed and designed. Computers games, technology, arts and sports should be polled to teens to determine what teens are looking for or what would they like to see. The community needs to take leads from our younger generation so that this community can begin to move forward.

Pompeo: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

As the School Committee’s representative to the Shore Education Collaborative I am involved with after school programs for all students.

Skerry: (Q5) Expansion of After-School Programs for All Students

The Medford Schools provides many after school programs and works with the PTO’s and school councils to increase opportunities at each building.

• Stipends are provided to many teachers at the middle and high school levels for after school clubs, organizations and athletic programs.
• We provide free busing from elementary and middle school students to such after school programs as "Bright Stars," "Graceworks" and The Boys and Girls Club. We also provide help to the area YMCA.
• We currently operate three elementary after school programs for below market costs (with some scholarship). The programs are growing at the Roberts, McGlynn, and Columbus. These are over 150 students involved at this time.
• We are launching several new youth programs this year to accommodate students modeled on this most recent summer programs.

Our primary responsibility is to fund the "regular school day." Nevertheless we are trying to advance after school options consistent with the demand for these them and our resources.

I have been a strong advocate of after school programs during my tenure on the board and insist that any student who wishes to partake in the activities do so regardless of their means.